35 Responses to “Show #65: We Sit Down With Kelly Johnson”

I’ve been too busy at Mickey’s to listen to the podcast but was wondering if anyone read the interview with J. Schafer. When asked about being sent down to the minors he said he was surprised it didn’t happen sooner. He says it’s all about winning in the majors and it’s not the time to adjust your swing. Maybe he should be GM.

Hey Leah. Yes. I loved the article (it’s at braves.com). My favorite quote was this, “I’m not upset,” Schafer said. “I’m not mad. I understand 100 percent why I’m here. I think once I get playing again and once I get comfortable, I think I can go back up and help the team win this year.” Or as I like to call it, the anti-Francoeur reaction to being sent down.

If only Wren’s cold, cold, Glavine-cuttin’ heart would go one more step. Uh… two more steps. No, three. Cox, Fr*nc***r, and Pendleton. Hell, even if they let Pendleton interim, the shake-up alone would…

Who am I kidding? They just won’t can the legend. They just won’t. Against all logic, they’ll keep his big, tired, non-split-reading butt sitting right there on that bench eating peanuts and rating all performances with laughable superlatives. “Pitched great except for nine or ten he left up in the zone.” “Ball must have hit a rock… or two… and a truck… who parked a truck there? Somebody did, I dunno…*munch, munch*”

I wish he would have a health concern. You know, just a false alarm. Just enough to get him gone, and then, full recovery. Where’s my dart gun?

If it weren’t for Brian McCann, I would totally quit this team. Damn you, Brian McCann.

4th Place – I agreed with you about Bobby unequivocally until the last two nights. This team has hit a new low, these last two nights against Cincy that I think maybe, just maybe, something really big is going to happen. Will it be Bobby? Probably not. But is there a small chance in hell like there hasn’t been in almost 20 years? I really believe so. Maybe they fire Wren, move Bobby to GM and TP to coach … but something’s got to give, because this has gotten painfully bad. And I have to believe they see that.

Steve, if they were to grow a serious pair and let Bobby go, though, the players would have to start playing for a new manager in the midst of an absolute sh*storm. Every country music listenin’, grandpa-lovin’, one-game-a-week watchin’ loudmouth who still looks for Andruw’s name in the box score at Hardees would fill up the papers/ local tv with quotes of chicken-fried outrage.

ESPN and company, already loaded with the Glavine/ Smoltz uproars, would be newly and happily armed with the mother of all flamethrowers – you know they’d love a good “how could they do that to three legends?” story. Seriously, cover of Sports Illustrated: “Shame in the Southland,” a photo of happy, young Smoltz/Glavine/Bobby leaning on the railing juxtaposed with a shadowy mugshot of Wren surrounded by red flames.

Would the players be literally scared to have fun in a game? Scared to show spirit with their general dead on the battlefield (good grief, I’m drunk on drama) and the number one story for the entire year being Cox’s ousting? And what if they DID play well, they’d have to answer “is the new management style helping?” questions all the live long day. Of course they’d downplay it. Then Eddie Perez or whoever… he’s in a completely goofy spot.

If you were Wren, would you risk that?

I’m afraid our best hope is for the season to end without an extension being offered.

p.s. The absolutely shrewdest move possible would be for J.S. to let Wren fire and replace Cox, and then fire Wren and resume the GM spot for one year. The public would eat that up. And when J.S. sat down at the table with other GM’s in the offseason… he’d have more respect than ever before.

I somehow was disappointed that we won today. Seriously, that is what we always do – look dreadful for the first two and then give us a glimmer of hope with a solid game like today (I love you Tommy Hanson, and that is not sarcasm). We can’t even suck consistently, although we are doing better and better in that area. I am so ready for something monumental to happen. I like all of the scenarios that you guys are throwing out there (except for Bobby as GM – that makes me shudder).

I literally forgot it was a day game and I begged my co-worker who knew the outcome not to say anything. Work done, went to dinner, home in time to see the replay on TV, most of the 8th & 9th innings.
I agree with you, Hamilton, the win was unexpected and made me feel no better. (OK, except for Matt Diaz, who I keep telling you people is an underused treasure) (schoolgirl crush aside)
Since I was in a coming-home flurry, answer me this: Chipper falling into the seats in an attempt to catch that foul…tell me he didn’t break a nail or contract the common cold or whatever he does to get himself hurt in myriad ways…

I officially reverse Will’s curse. Meanwhile, can I give a shout-out to Joe Simpson? I so enjoy listening to him, whether he’s with Chip or Boog. Very thoughtful and makes me miss Pete Van Wieren a little less.

We’re such suckers, but I’m totally on the bandwagon again. Two great games in a row. Lowe and JJ coming up. Only 4.5 out. GA seems to be heating up. McLouth seems to be heating up. Man, it’s so much better when we’re winning.